Bed plate structure for printing machines



May 23, 1933. c. M. LAMB BED PLATE STRUCTURE FOR PRINTING MACHINES FiledMay 4, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 N m w \w W A llllllll I I M m 6 R 3 m E MW. R Q a w \m sw a- \&

ATTORNEY.

May 23, 1933. LAMB BED PLATE STRUCTURE FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed May4, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. 694/9155 M 1/9/15 wk? 1 B ATTORNEY.

Patented May 23, 1933 UNli" s'ra'ras cnAn Es 1J1. LAMB, on PASADENA,CALIFORNIA BED PLATE STRUCTURE FOR PRINTING MAGTIINES Application filedMay 4, 1932. Serial No. 609,185.

This invention relates to improvement. in bed plates for printingmachines of the type disclosed in the application on printing machine ofCharles M. Lamb, Serial No. 439,-

5 794, filed Mar. 28, 1930. It has been found that when using a printingmachine of this type, the same having a one-piece bed plate which wascontacted by the lowerpressure 1 roll'during the printing operation,that that portion of the bed plate'above which the type was ordinarilyset was distorted due to the pressure exerted by the rollers and to therolling actioncaused by the lower roller. Dueto this distortion of thebed plate 25 the bed plate caused by the rolling action of the lowerroller.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a pluralityof strips posi- 1 tioned between the bed plate and the lower pressureroller whereby the rolling action is imparted to the strips, the stripsbeing arranged to permit movement thereof in a direction parallel to thedirection of move ment of the pressure roller during the print ingoperation.

Another object vof the invention resides in the provision of a bed platefor printing machines which comprises a plurality of;

longitudinally extending strips arranged to pressure rollers during theprinting operation to compensate for lengthening of the strlps.

. Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a bedplate comprising-a one-piece flexible bed plate and a plurality oflongitudinally extending. strips -posi- 1 tioned therebeneath wherebythe lower pres.

sure roller contacts the strips and any dispermit movement thereof in adirection parallel to the direction of movement of the tortion isimparted thereto, the strips being arranged for movement relative tothebed plate in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of thepressure rollers during the printing operation, the strips being weldedat one point to the bed plate to prevent the accumulation of dirtbetween the strips and the bettom of the bed plate.

These objects and the severalnovel features of theinvention arehereinafter more fully described and claimed and the preferred form ofconstruction by which these objects are attained is shown in theaccompanying drawings in which-- Fig. 1 is a plan; view of a printingmachine eqnipped with my improved bed plate.-

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

on line 33 of Fig. 1. v

Fig. i is a partial .top, plan View of a. modifiedformof construction. I

Fig; 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 55 of 4. V f I Fig. 6 is anend viewof the impression member. Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 77of Fig; j Fig. 8 is a detail longitudinal sectional view through aportion of the bed plate during the printing operation. 1

Referring to the drawings, the bed plate 1 is supported at itsrespective ends by the legs 2' and 3. Thechannel members 4 and 5 aresuitably secured to the upper face of the bed plate 1. one adjacent eachside edge thereof and act as stiffeners' for the edges of the bed plateas well as runways for the impression member 7 62 The impression member6 comprises the upper roller 12and; the lower roller '13- carried by theside frames 14 and 15.- The roller 12 is adjustabl-y positioned betweenthe side frames 14 and 15 so that the roller may be raised andloweredrelative to the'bed plate 1 by operation ofthe handlelG to adjust thepressure on the face of the type 11.

. The upper roller 12 is rotatably supported Fig. 3 is an enlargeddetail section taken at its ends by the bearings 7 "throughwhichv theshaft 8 extends the same formed with the eccentric extension 9 to whichthe handle 16 is secured. It will thus be seen that as the handle 16 ismoved in either direction that the distance between the upper and lowerrolls of the impression member will be changed to accommodate forvarying thicknesses of cards that are to be printed. The type 11 issupported on the bed plate 1 in any desired manner such as by the waxedsheet 10 positioned on the upper face of the bed plate 1. The end frames18 and 19 extend between the side frames 4 and'5 and are suitablysecured thereto. The strips 20 are positioned below the bed plate 1 andare supported at their ends by the screws 21 extending into the endframes 18 and 19. The screws 21 are each formed with the threadedportion 22 extending through the bed plate 1 and into the end bars andhave the enlarged portion 23 which forms a shoulder which engages thelower face of the bed plate 1 and holds the bed plate tightly againstthe end bars. The screws are each further provided with an enlarged head24 which support the strips 20. Each strip 20 is provided at each endwith an elongated slot 25 through which the enlarged portion 23 of thescrew 21 passes so that the strips 20 are permitted longitudinalmovement rel ative to the base 1.

It will be noted that the lower pressure roller 13 engages the bottomface of the strips 20 during the printing operation causing only thebars 20 to be deformed or lengthened by the rolling action of the lowerpressure roller 13 and not the bed plate 1. Since the lengthof theenlarged portion 23 is slightly greater than the thickness of the bars20 no appreciable pressure will be put on the bars when the screws 21are tightened down thereby permitting freedom of longitudinal movementto the bars. Referring to Figs. 4 and 5 the end bars 30 are positionedbelow the strips 31 which form the bed plate of the machine. The strips31 are provided at each end' with an elongated slot 32 through which thescrew 33 passes, the same being threaded in the end bars 30. The screw33 is so constructed as to not tightly hold the strip 31 down againstthe end bar 30 to permit longitudinal movement of the bars caused by thelengthening thereof due to the pressure and rolling action exertedthereon. V

Referring to Fig. 8 I have shown the impression member during theprinting operation anduit will be seen that the card 40, 7

being printed, is placed over the face of the type 11 and a pad'or cover41 is preferably'placed thereover. It will be understood that at thistime there is considerable pressure exerted between the upper and lowerrolls 12 and 13 and due to the pressure and the rolling action of thelower roll 13 the bed plate is ordinarily deformed but with my improvedstructure any lengthening or distortion of the strips 20 is permittedindependently of the bed plate and since there is no rolling actionexerted on the bed plate there is practically no distortion thereof.

It will thus be noted that in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 that nodistortion is caused to the bed plate 1 and that in the secondconstruction distortion or lengthening of the bed plate is compensatedfor by the lengthening of the strips forming the bed plate. It will beunderstood, of course, that the strips 20 mav be spot welded at somepoint intermediate their ends to the bed plate lto prevent dirt and dustfrom accumulating on the upper face of the strips." It will be furtherunderstood that the strips may be fixedly secured at one end and allmoivement thereof permitted at the opposite en From the foregoingdescription it becomes evident that I have provided a new and improvedbed plate which will not be distorted by the pressure exerted by thelower roller riding on the lower surface thereof during the printingoperation, further that the device is relatively simple in constructionand obviates the necessity of replacing the bed plate caused bydistortion thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode ofoperation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is- I 1. In a printing machine, a frame, an'impressionmember including an upper pressure member for causing an impressionofthe type on the printing surface and arranged to traverse the frame, asupport for the pressure member, a lower pressure member carried by thesupport, a plurality of strips supported by the frame and positionedbetween the upper and lower pressure members, the lower surface of thestrips engaged by-the lower pressure member to maintain the upperpressure member in a predetermined position relative to the type faceduring the printing operation, means for supporting the strips ontheframe to permit lengthening of-the strips caused by the action of thelower pressure memberthereagainst during the printing operation.

2. In a printing machine, a frame, an impression member including aroller for causing an impression of the type on the printing surface andarranged to traverse the frame, a support for the roller, a secondroller carried by the support, a plurality of strips supported by theframe andposition'ed between the rollers, the strips engaged by the'secondroller to maintain the first named roller in a predeterminedposition relative tothe type face during the printing opera-' tion,means for supporting the strips on the frame to permit lengthening ofthe strips caused by the rolling action of the second roller during theprinting operation.

3. In a printing machine, a frame, an in pression member including aroller for causing an impression of the type on the printing surface andarranged to traverse the frame, a support for the roller, a secondroller carried by the support, a plurality of strips supported by theframe and positioned between the rollers, the strips engaged by thesecond roller to maintain the first named roller in a predeterminedposition relative to the type face during the printing opertion, thestrips each provided with an elongated aperture, and means extendingthrough each of the elongated apertures and into the frame formaintaining the strips in position, the elongated apertures permittinglengthening of the strips caused by the rolling action of the lowerroller.

4. In a printing machine, a frame, a bed plate carried by the frame forsupport ng type thereon, a plurality of strips carrled by the frame andpositioned below the bed plate, an impression membenincluding an upperroller for causing an impression of the type on the printing surface andarranged to traverse the same, a support for the roller, a lower rollercarried by the support for engaging the lower face of the strips tomaintain the upper roller 111 a predetermined position relative to thetype face during the printing operation, each strip provided with anelongated aperture, and means extending through each elongated apertureand into the frame for maintaining the strips in position, the elongatedapertures permitting lengthening of the strips caused by the rollingaction of the lower roller.

5. In a printing machine, a frame, a flexible bed plate carried by theframe for supporting type thereon, a plurality of strlps carried by theframe and positioned below the flexible bed plate, an impression memberincluding an upper roller for causing an impression of the type in theprinting surface and arranged to traverse the frame, a support for theroller, a lower roller carried by the support and engagmg the lower faceof the strips to maintain the upper roller in a predetermined positionrelative to the type face during the printing operation, and means forsecuring the strips to the frame to permit lengthening thereof in adirection parallel to the direction of movement of the impressionmember.

6. In a printing machine, a frame, a bed plate carried by the frame forsupporting type thereon, a plurality of strips carried by the frame andpositioned below the bed plate, an impression member including an upperroller for causing an impression of the'type on the printing surface andarranged to traverse the frame, a support for the roller, a lower rollercarried by the support and engaging the lower face of the strips tomaintain the upper roller in a predetermined position relative tothetype face during the printing operation, and means for securing thestrips to the frame to permit lengthening thereof in a direction par-vallel to the direction of movement of the impression member.

7. In a printing machine, a frame, a bed plate carried by the frame forsupporting type thereon, a plurality of strips carried by the frame andpositioned below the bed plate, an impression member including an upperpressure member for causing an impression of the type on the printedsurface, and arranged to traverse the frame, a support for the upperpressure member, a lower pressure member carried by the support andengaging the lower face of the strips to maintain the upper pressuremember in a predetermined position relative to the type face during theprinting operation, and means for securing the strips to the frame topermit lengthening thereof in a direction parallel to thedirection ofmovement of the impression member.

8. In a printing machine, a frame, a plurality of strips carried by theframe for 5 supporting type thereon, an impression member including anupper pressure member for causing an impression of the type on theprinting surface and arranged to traverse the frame, a support for theupper pressure member, a lower pressure member carried by the supportand engaging the lower face of the strips to maintain the upper pressuremember in a predetermined position relative to the type face during theprinting operation, and means for securing the strips to the frame topermit lengthening thereof in a direction parallel to the direction ofmovement of the impression mem ber.

9. In a printing machine, a frame, a plurality of strips carried by theframe for sup porting type thereon, an impression mom ber including anupper roller for causing an impression of the type on the printingsurface and arranged to traverse the frame, a support for the roller, alower roller carried by the support and engaging the lower face of thestrips to maintainthe upper roller in a predetermined position relativeto the type face during the printing operation, each strip provided withan elongated aperture, and means extending through each elongatedaperture and into'the frame for maintaining the strips in position, theelongated apertured permitting lengthening of the strips caused by therolling action of the lower roller. l

10. In a printing machine, a frame, a

plurality of strips carried by the frame for supporting type thereon, animpression member including an upper roller for causing an impression ofthe type on the printing surface and arranged to traverse the frame, asupport for the roller, a lower roller carried by the support andengaging the lower face of the strips to maintain the upper roller in apredetermined position relative to the type face during the printingoperation and means for securing the strips to the frame to permitlengthening thereof in a direction parallel to the direction of movementof the impression member.

In testimony whereof I sign this specifieation.

CHARLES M. LAMB.

